Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 48r

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Miniature:
Shepherds: Annunciation -- Two angels, holding scrolls, appear above shepherdess and four shepherds, including one playing bagpipe, tending flock of sheep in pasture. Shepherdess and shepherds gesture or fall back.
Miniature and text framed by historiated border with the following continuous scene:
Scene, Occupational: Pastoral -- In upper left corner, angel, holding two scrolls, appears above man, in left border, holding staff, raising left hand to forehead, seated among rooftops of buildings.
In upper right corner, angel, holding scroll, appears above two men, in right border, tending sheep and cattle in fenced pasture.
Below, in lower border, man, holding flail, stands beside fence. Within fence, in lower left corner, woman, supporting herself with staff, stands in doorway of building behind second woman, seated, milking goat beside sheepcote within which is flock of sheep. Several sheep graze outside sheepcote. Child, wearing coif, extending left arm, pulls toy ship on wheels. He points towards several animals, including two dogs, one of which chases horse, and ass.